Migrating already?

[Bluffs Birder]

My birding friend Phil Lameira and I were down in the Niagara Region on Wednesday and around dusk we noticed several hundred Grackles, Red-wings and Starlings heading south over the farm fields in very large groups.  Likely a couple of thousand birds in total.  Would this be a mass post-nesting movement or an actual migration south.  Thoughts?

Walter

[thouc]

I would guess post-nesting gatherings. There are usually large flocks of blackbirds/starlings in farmland areas late summer/fall.

/Thomas

[Bluffs Birder]

Thanks Thomas.  Amazing to see so many birds gathered together already.  Us big city folk just don't get to see this!

Walter